NEC concluded the preparation with a draw against the French Le Havre. In the Gofferstadion the practice match ended in 1-1. Goal scorer on the Nijmegen side was Sami Ouaissa.
The match against the French was the first practice match this preparation with an audience, and in their own Goffert. The match was also the last measurement before the start of the competition, next Saturday, at home against FC Twente. Philippe Sandler, Sontje Hansen, Koki Ogawa and Lars Olden Larsen were absent from NEC due to injuries. Furthermore, the intended base was probably started, including Robin Roefs in goal. Sami Ouaissa started in contrast to the previous match as a striker, with Rober González behind him.
The start of the match was a test for both teams. After fifteen minutes of play, we were able to note the first serious chance. Via a cross from Calvin Verdonk to Kodai Sano, the ball ended up with González. The Spaniard pushed the ball just wide of the goal. NEC then started playing better football and Önal even pulled out the bag of tricks with a beautiful action in midfield. This resulted in another chance after a cross from González to Sano. The Japanese headed the ball just wide. Rogier Meijer’s team was the superior team, but was not yet able to convert the chances into goals.
After more than half an hour of play, Le Havre took the lead against the odds, the striker was able to tap in from close range. NEC also had a huge chance from a corner kick, Sano shot high over from very close range. Just before half-time, NEC had the opportunity to equalize. An excellent pass from Dirk Proper came via Verdonk to González and the latter missed again.
Second half
After the break, NEC came out of the dressing room well. Mees Hoedemakers won the ball strongly, allowing Ouaissa to continue towards the keeper. The occasional striker slid the ball into the goal: 1-1. After the equalizer, the big chances failed to materialize on either side. Towards the end of the match, the pace dropped and many fouls were made. In the final phase, the French were awarded a free kick just outside the sixteen, but Roefs easily managed to catch this ball. NEC was ultimately unable to reward itself and therefore ended the preparation with a draw in the last test before the start of the Eredivisie, next Saturday.
Match progress:
34′ 0-1, Ngoura (Le Havre)
57′ 1-1, Ouaissa (NEC)
NEC line-up: Roefs; Van Rooij (70′ Pereira), Márquez, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, González, Proper; Önal (75′ De Wit), Ouaissa, Sano.
Lineup Le Havre: Desmas; Nego, Blood, Bodmer, Opera; Diawara, Praise, Confession; Zohouri, Food, Sabbath.
Photo: Rob Koppers
